An Instillation

This week's assignment was a little outside my comfort zone, but it was still a fun experiment in creating an exhibit space.

Step One: Mission statement, take-home messages, and storyline

The mission and take-home messages remains similar to FPA’s in that it is to get people to understand that objects are a part of a larger history. That the everyday things we love are things we adapt to serve our purposes. Objects, though ordinary, are reflective of our lifestyle and become our history.

Step Two: Organize your storyline into “galleries of thought”

For me, the exhibit should be organized thematically by type, for example, clothing, toys, metals, or paper grouped together or near each other. This enables viewers to compare and contrast the objects to each other as well as time compare a grouping to objects in their personal lives.

Step Three: Inventory in the content and pin down the most important facts

The important part is to clearly link the objects to each other as to not make them appear to be random, things, but everyday things that hold meanings. This also should be done in a way that enables viewer to make the connection not only to thematic areas but to the overall collection. For FPA, the linking element is the value given to objects by people. These objects borrowed from real people show how we can take something with a specific traditional function and attach other purposes and sentiments to it.

Step Four: Find ways to motivate and engage your visitors

There should be multiple perspectives for each object, ideally two histories and a personal story or a longer history and a couple of stories to show that there is no one standard value. Voice-overs, films, texts, or touch screens can be used to encourage active participation by visitors. There should be areas to interact with objects, for example by touch (but use other non-valuable pieces). There would be locations set up around each grouping where people can tell their responses and display them up (on a cork board, magnetic board, etc). Soft, inviting music would be plated to calm the room, to make it less sterile and more welcoming. With visual interest and being allowed to tell their own story, it facilitates the message that these objects are more than histories or stories but connections to everyday life and that we make our culture.

Step Five: Plan the “look and feel” of your exhibit

Even though all the types will be together they will be arranged in a visually appealing manner. Not in height or style order but mixed to add interest. Lighter colors (off whites, blues, greens) will brighten the space without overpowering the objects. Also staggering along the wall or tables are the text panels in a pattern but not a strict linear line (because that gets boring). The main goal is to create a comfortable, homey space rather than a sterile space. The set up is like a home- living space, play space, office, dining area- to create a sense of comfort and familiarity. The objects become less on display and more associated with being in a home. Comfortable seating arrangements will be used, such as in clusters around sections of object to encourage conversation and to write their own reactions. The exhibit also flows from one area to the next, however it is not fixed (you don't have to go in a specific order to make sense of the place). 

Step Six: Produce the exhibit

Floorplan was an excellent site to create a blueprint of the exhibit. Even my non-artistic skills looks somewhat creative with this source.